A nurse accidentally administers the medication metformin instead of metoprolol to a client.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Obtain the client’s HDL level.
B.
Monitor the client’s thyroid function levels.
C.
Collect the client’s uric acid level.
D.
Check the client’s glucose level.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
D. Check the client’s glucose level.
Explanation:
In this scenario, the nurse accidentally administered metformin instead of metoprolol. These two medications are used to treat different conditions:
- Metformin is an oral medication primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels.
- Metoprolol is a beta-blocker used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), angina (chest pain), and heart failure.
Since metformin affects blood glucose levels by reducing the amount of sugar the liver releases and increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, the primary concern after administering this medication to a non-diabetic patient (or someone for whom it was not prescribed) would be hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels).
Even in a patient without diabetes, the unintended administration of metformin could lead to a significant drop in blood sugar, causing symptoms like dizziness, sweating, confusion, or even fainting if the hypoglycemia becomes severe. Therefore, the nurse’s priority should be to check the client’s glucose level to ensure that the blood sugar remains within a safe range.
On the other hand:
- A. HDL level (high-density lipoprotein) is related to cholesterol and lipid profile and is not relevant to either drug’s immediate effects.
- B. Thyroid function levels have no direct link to metformin or metoprolol’s mechanisms of action.
- C. Uric acid levels are more associated with conditions like gout and are unrelated to the effects of metformin or metoprolol.
Monitoring blood glucose will allow for quick intervention (e.g., administering glucose if needed) to prevent complications from hypoglycemia. Additionally, after ensuring the client’s safety, the nurse should report the medication error and follow up with incident protocols to prevent future mistakes.